Eisenkot tipped to seek Israel government as religious party drops Netanyahu
Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the leading candidate to form a new Israeli government following a divisive election. This comes as religious parties withdraw their support for Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the lack of a clear majority for any single bloc.
Why it matters
The potential transition of power in Israel could significantly alter the country's political direction after years of war and internal polarization.
Jerusalem Gadi Eisenkot emerged on Thursday (November 5, 2026) as the favourite to be tasked with trying to form an Israeli government as a religious party long aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to recommend him. Israel’s President accepts certified election results in a blow to Netanyahu’s claim of vote fraud Israel’s President accepts certified election results in a blow to Netanyahu’s claim of vote fraud Herzog's acceptance of the results as valid dealt a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's effort to discredit the vote in which his religious-nationalist bloc lost its majority in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset Israel’s President accepts certified election results in a blow to Netanyahu’s claim of vote fraud storyline 1 President Isaac Herzog was holding a second day of consultations with political parties after the October 27 election, in which neither Mr.
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